Former attorney general of Antigua and Barbuda, Justin Simon, has described electoral reform as important and said campaign financing in the Caribbean must be addressed legislatively.
Simon, who is Dominican, told privately-owned Q-95 on Friday morning that there is a trend taking place in the region and campaign financing must be placed on the front burner.
He said matters such as how much money is spent, how much money from any particular business should be accepted, the time frame within which campaign financing should cease and vote buying, have to be addressed.
“I think it is necessary that we do that because a clean democratic system does not call for those kinds of anomalies and to allow for those things to happen,” he stressed.
Simon is of the opinion that the electorate must be educated on matters such as receiving handouts from political parties.
“They ought not to depend on handouts or monies being passed on to them during an electoral process and at the end of the day, when that is all over and done they are totally forgotten,” he noted.
According to him, the democratic process is a continuous one and is not visible only during an election.
“It is not what I can get now, it is what I can do for my country, what I expect of you in respect of my country and not a selfish now-for-now finance debt effect just for the purpose of voting,” Simon said.
In terms of electoral reform, he pointed to the complete re-registration of all voters in Antigua and Barbuda which he said was necessary to clean up that island’s voters’ list.
“The process itself took about a period of three months in terms of persons getting the opportunity to re-register,” Simon stated.
He said the new system allows for continuous registration and acknowledges that people change residence and constituencies all the time.
“Therefore the constituency in which they should be voting would change and it also accepted (that) there are persons who may be dead,” he pointed out. “It is important to clear the register of all of these anomalies.”
Additionally, Simon said, the re-registration process prevents the airlifting of Antiguans to the country just for the purpose of voting.
“You also have a situation where there are people registered, then go away, live overseas and they really have lost touch in terms of what is happening in the country and you do not want a situation where those persons can be carted in, or airlifted in just for the purposes of voting and getting back out,” he remarked. “That re-registration process cleaned and cleared this up so that you don’t have that kind of situation coming through every election.”
He argued that the process of electing a new government is a serious one and those who live in the country are in a better position to make a decision on a new government.
“I mean there are persons who actually live here, who are resident here, who go through whatever traumas or difficulties here and who can see for themselves what needs to be done, where the government itself is failing, where there ought to be improvements within the whole social milieu, or education, health and economic development,” he stated.
Simon’s party, the United Progressive Party which initiated the re-registration process, lost the general election to the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party last week but he appears to have no regrets.
“It is the will of the people but importantly the democratic process must be a process that is transparent, which is clean, viable and legitimate,” he said.
J. Simon: A man of integrity, a man who put the country before personal rewards or gain, a man who was not afraid to loose, a man who could keep his head in triumph and disaster. Could our present politicians do that? Could they put the legitimacy of a democratic process before their victory – or is victory at all cost, even to the death of democracy itself.
If you are confident, if you are the best, if your are doing nothing for votes but for the good in itself – why not show it by ensuring that there are approariate legislative reform for general elections?
Aye Aye…his party loose so he show up…V Way!…watch him closely…
What I want to know is where is our own A.G.? Has he not got anything to say on the matter. So long we don’t hear from hi. Is he a real lawyer? Angelo challenged him on that we never heard a word.Come on mr. Levi, aren’t you supposed to uphold the law?
The electoral commission supposed to be a neural unit, free from political influence. However this is not the case. Can you imagine two men , part of the commission(both labour party members) at a meeting with the Opposition and never utter a single word. What a shame! What is this country coming into. Everything is dam politics. The voters list need to be cleanse and voter ID need to be given to each registered voter. Simple! When that is done whichever party wins , wins!
If an election is called and Labour party wins and there is no electoral reform then UWP has ALLLLLL right to say Labour STEAL the election!
Because he isn’t in office anymore
How can re-registration take three years in Dominica when everybody votes in one day while people are at work. As far as I see it the most we will need is two weeks.
Mr. Simon, I hope you’re not thinking if being affiliated to UWP!!!!….As high as I rate u, that would be just terrible n I don’t think u need to undergo another loss!!!!#DLP#Winagain& again
I would suggest that you get yourself some education maybe you should start going to school be it night or day you need to be at a level where you can understand when those who a more educated and have common sense to speak or write, you see Team Dominica UWP have all the brains and vision to move D’ica forward and this haven got anything to do with party colors s so while you and others have a blind spot for the man you risk Dominica and it’s people out of greed and stupidity .
Avoid what to affect an reelection
Mr Simon QC
Dominica needs you, and it needs you now!
You are articulate, educated, dynamic, vocal, capable , experienced and you earned your money by sheer hard work . (Actually I could expand on the list of your impressive attributes but would prefer to keep this comment short!)
Please return to Dominica to help clean up the current debacle and to help move our island forward in a clean and transparent way.
We really need Dominicans like yourself to challenge the incumbent government.
Many thanks
What’s all this about Dominica needs you now. Mr. Simon was the Attorney General of The Government in Antigua and Barbuda he had the chance to draft laws regarding electoral reforms especially campaign financing and he did nothing.Why is he calling for such laws now after The Government which he served was defeated at the polls.
You have said something very foolish.Why do think that Mr. Simon can help clean up the current debacle and to help move our island forward in a clean and transparent way.The debacle you are referring to regarding a clean and fair election in Dominica is something all Politicians use to manipulate public discussion and exploit a situation. Mr. Simon may be articulate, educated, dynamic and vocal as a Lawyer, but his Political ideology does not carry weight and opens the door for debate, especially regarding citizens living outside their Country who want to partake in the election process.
The last sentence of you comment once again convey such nonsense, and shows a very bias mind coupled with tunnel vision and does not reflect the views of all Dominicans, it is just your opinion.
Hi Gary
Thanks for your most eloquent response.
However, I do not agree that I am demonstrating bias by stating what is true.
Mr Sinon QC and his government did implement radical changes to the election process in Antigua, before the election. I do also agree with his other recommendations. Fir example, .Dominicans residing overseas should not be airlifted to Dominica to vote, as they are not overly concerned about the matters of Dominica.
We need a fairer electoral system which will serve ALL parties.
There is an abject lack of transparency in the government’s administration which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
I am sorry that you are offended by my comments but I do not stand alone as many of our fellow Dominicans are unhappy about a great deal of current issues.
We will have to agree to disagree !
To Honesty
Thanks for you reply, Oh no I’m not offended by your comment, It’s just that I love to debate lol and sometimes I get a heated up. You said something in you reply that got my attention and that is quote “Dominicans residing overseas should not be airlifted to Dominica to vote, as they are not overly concerned about the matters of Dominica. I’m not concerned about
Dominicans residing overseas airlifted to vote, that’s debatable the The Law is not clear on such matters it is the reason why such a debate continues., The augment to support this sees this as bribe to vote but them on the other hand an augment can be made that this does not constitute bribery to vote, and let us not forget The UWP was accused of doing the same thing. What really
concerns me is the latter part of the statement quote “they are not overly concerned about the matters of Dominica” This is not an accurate assessment, and there lies my problem with you.
I’m Antigua and my parents are Dominicans. My country was destroyed by the upp govt. i saw the mistreatment of non nationals under Justin simons watch. Election 2009 the upp stole election using most of those things he described. It was so bad that the OAs sent observers to specifically watch for that. Justin ruin my country and he’ll tian yours if u guys take him back
How many foreigners were doing koshonee in Antigua, including our own Dominicans, just like they doing in Guadeloupe and St. Maarten for instance. Is not only the best we export you know but some of the worst too. Not all Dominicans are nice people, that is a myth for Discover Dominica.
first time in my long lived life i hear government saying they want to clean out opposition, It was always said oposition is important and is an asset to good governance but this wicked son of a Prime Minister wants dominica to be his football field, wanting all 21 seats for himself what more you want to achieve that you cant with 18 seats. How can a Prime Minister be jealous of what another has achieved, how can you be envious of another government for getting all the seats when you are almost in total control of yours. your mind is that you can be a castro if your wishes become true. Besides we cant be living in a democratic country if your victory is guaranteed by buying plane tickets for overseas dominicans to reelect you.Our Country needs to be rescued
Now tell me..since when Dominicans sit and parlez parlez parlez and not do n e thing..eh..So u all turn Antiguans now..who rather non- immigrants march..protest…I know u all better than that…if u all want free and fair elections you all should do what you all have to do…{legal} eh…
Mr Simon on the other hands is a man that most Dominicans lose respect for in Antigua…So his party lost and here he is singing for his supper already…smh…
Its good to see you can only see that after you lost your job..i must SMILE.
BRILLIANT!!!!!! BRILLIANT!!!!! BRILLIANT!!!!
This is one of the main reasons why the Skerrit led Labour party has kept the people poor. In poverty you need handouts. He makes them believe that the handouts are coming from his pocket (his money).
As i have said several times before on this medium,that is how he (Skerrit) will mailnly be remembered. “As the one who impoverished Dominica, and made the majority of the population beggars in their own land.”
WHAT A SHAME!
HOW LONG?
NOT LONG!
The entire world must be alerted about the , in your faces, attempts at stealing, cheating, elections and disregarding the Electoral Laws.
Remember the Minister of Finance and Govt.’s refusal to give funds to the Electoral Commission, when it recommended reforms. The Commission, almost 9 Years, now requested $$$$$ to produce VOTER ID Cards and to clean up the bloated Voters’ List. All in an effort to ensure FRE and FAIR elections.
Clearly, nothing has happened but trickery and fooling the people about National ID Cards.
Which Nation, which Govt., which people in any country do not want FREE and FAIR elections? It is the political operatives, with their hidden agenda, it is politicians with dictatorship tendencies who resist Electoral reforms. In Dominica, witness the position, the defence, the actions of those who feel FRE and FAIR elections would prevent the winning legacy of the PM in elections.
Remember the famous E-mail? Since that time the recommendations for electoral reforms from the Commission, has been Kiboshed, erased, discontinued. That is a serious illegal act, influencing the work of the “Independent” Electoral Commission.
The focus must be to inform the world about the undemocratic actions of Skerritt and his DLP, in putting a spoke in the wheels of electoral Reforms.
The Dominican people will stand for nothing less, but FRE and FAIR elections. The whole world will be watching Dominicans’ response to those attempts at denying the people FREE and FAIR elections.
The international community is on the side of and willing to help us patriots to stop that madness of preventing reforms. The Cabal should not be allowed to cheat, steal or corrupt the election process anymore. STOP the dictatorship trend.
Wow, what a piece of nonsensical Political rhetoric believing that the up coming election will not be fair and The Government is not doing what is needed to make sure that the process is not compromised. Your absence of facts is very sad and only helps to support your fantasies and desires.Where is the evidence to support your belief. Your take regarding the ID cards and The Government position says how much you are willing to use commonsense regarding the matter and even worse misrepresenting the issue,it says a lot about your understanding. Wow,you have taken the Blue Pill administered to you.
Gary
I suggest that you are at Melville airport to meet and greet the Dominicans who arrive to cast their ” airlifted”votes!
Also, you may want to start checking the stock pile of “gifts” waiting to be distributed pre-election!
By the way, I hope that you recover from your red pill!
Setting l political affiliations aside. Who in God’s name would not want to see a clean, up-to-date voters’ list? How could anyone, who supports democracy possibly object to that? beats me. I don’t care who cleans it up but let’s do it if we want to be seen by the rest of the world as righteous people that are fair and can be trusted.
The heat is on, DNO, and you will keep deleting the views that doesn’t favor your party. Mr. Justine, your party just lost the election in Antigua! We have enough UNEMPLOPYED politicians in the UWP, we don’t need any more. When you left DA you burn the bridge behind you. Are you already singing for your super? You are a respected individual , therefore, think of doing something constructive. Again, Politicians are like diapers. They need to change regularly.
This comment is unnecessary…. a simple explanation on why it’s important to re-register the people of a nation for free and fair election….. seems like you are the one singing for your supper. It’s obvious you are illiterate…. spell check . I will pray for you.
Is there anything wrong in what he said?……The corrupt practices of the DLP MUST come to an end!!!!!
What’s your point?
It’s amazing how people put their brains and morals aside to support a political party. I don’t care which party you support, I think cleaning up of the voters list is ethically and morally right.
Lets welcome Anonymous to TEAM DOMINICA…HERE IS WHAT HE SAYS:
“……….Again, Politicians are like diapers. They need to change regularly……….”
WE NEED CHANGE….WE NEED TEAM DOMINICA TO CLEAN UP DOMINICA from this corrupt regime.
So Anonymous, do not get personal and stay focus on
CHANGE IS A MUST ….TEAM DOMINICA
Well I guess then it is time to change those diapers in Dominica.
Jeez! Why are you so ignorant? Are you one of those who sing for your supper under Skerrit? We are getting the clean list to benefit you and your children in the long run!
Whoever you are I must say you are very very stupid!
You are such an idiot!
Sing HIGH, sing LOW, something MUST be done BEFORE the NEXT ELECTION. I do not want to read about any blood shed.
PEACE, VOTE!
forget the messenger , take the message,
since when Dominicans began hating facts ?and trashing truth?my GOD ,this young man is leading us to hell
It has been said, Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reasons. Mr. Justine, the election in Antigua just ENDED last week and you are already singing for your supper. You are a respectable person don’t degrade your self. Are you for real? When you left DA you burn the bridge behind YOU! Dominicans in Antigua fear you. Now, you want to sing for your supper. How low will you stoop, go away and enjoy with is left . What the UWP doesn’t need now is another UNEMPLOYED politician.
Have some respect for the individual. For your information, this is part of the political education we all need in Dominica. Knowledge is power!
Since when has there ever been an honest burglar??
Don’t try to kill the messenger, meditate on the message!!!!!
Mr. Simon should be ashamed to speak on any news media in dominica when he As Dominican helped the upp government to persecute dominicans. The voters list was cleaned to prevent us non nationals from voting. The whole Constitution was changed from the three year resident requirement to register to a 7 year requirement. But they still loose.
You call this persecution? I thought my country had more literate people… I feel sorry for the future if Dominica.
BLA BLA BLA– what is the real reason he is in DOMINICA nuh? can someone please tell me?
After a political shame in Antigua, he only now remembers that he is a Dcan
If It Is THE LORD’S WILL you may know Soon Enough Why He Is In The Nature Isle. GOD IS GOOD.
If You Are In The Nature Isle Mr. Simon, We Say Welcome And THE WILL OF GOD BE DONE. Thank You For Speaking Out Loud and Clear. That Which Took Place In Antigua Happened For A Good Reason And More We Believe. the Time Is At Hand. May you Hear and Take Heed To THE VOICE And WORD OF GOD Being Obedient To Do HIS WILL AMEN.
Justin, your recent rantings epitomise the well known saying: Sa wat ca di en fetai kai sey pa sa y ca di a ter. In case you forgot your patwa, it means what the rat says when in the eaves of the house, that’s not what he says on the ground.. You mean you did not know about the need for electoral reform and campaign finance regulations laws while you sat in the AG’s seat???? Suddenly, just like that, it occurred to you? Well my boy you will have to wait until the next time you sitting in the AG’s seat to pass these laws, ok? Your time pass to deal with that.
Politicians always ask for election reform when they are out of power or has recently loss an election…..just saying!
I absolutely concur with Mr Simon’s comments.
Dominica needs a fair and democratic electoral system.
Dominicans residing overseas should not be allowed to vote especially when they do so on a free flight to the homeland.
Also, the pre-election donations which the Labour Party engages in, must be stopped.
We should consider what is good for Dominica and not be selfish .
Let’s do it fairly and let the best party win.
It is interesting that Mr. Simon has not said. that the transportation of voters was illegal.
He was not frank and fair, he was pushing the agenda of the UWP as far as he professionally could. He spoke of Finance reform and buying votes in General but he did not specifically address the legality of transporting voters because his candid legal opinion is contrary to the views of the UWP and to that extent he did not take the opportunity to truly educate the Dominican electorate. He was more concerned of not making the UWP look bad and he went out of his way to seek to infer that the DLP was acting in bad faith. He did not earn my respect in so doing but he unwittingly confirmed the position of the DLP that they had the right in law to transport voters.
His only speaking now because he dose not have a job with this gorvement! shame shame why now?
So true
Maybe you can’t read and understand here is the quote “You also have a situation where there are people registered, then go away, live overseas and they really have lost touch in terms of what is happening in the country and you do not want a situation where those persons can be carted in, or airlifted in just for the purposes of voting and getting back out,” he remarked. “That re-registration process cleaned and cleared this up so that you don’t have that kind of situation coming through every election.” that should be easy to understand that for the re-registration to have addressed this situation there had to be legislative framework dummy! he also mentioned that it took like St.Lucia seven years before resident foreigners could qualify to vote didn’t you hear him say that too! dummy. so all those Haitians and Chinese allyou have registering would not be able to happen in Antigua. The question is why is it taking Dominica -” all you”i more than five years to do what it took St. Lucia less than one year and Antigua less than 3 months to do? why? what are you all afraid of. I dare you all to be like Justice Simon put country first.
are you going to have re-registration every election cycle?
I will put country first but if we want fair election we cannot clean up the electoral list in just a few months. My brother lives away for about five years. He visited Dominica at least twice a year. He was unable to this year because of job commitments. Should we be given three months to clean up the electoral list he will not have the opportunity to reregister hence he will not be able to vote when the election is called. He has a right to vote. he has kids here and a small business. Would that be fair and free election if so many like hime is denied the opportunity to vote?
They thought they were going to win that is why they took these steps. It blew up in their face.
Mr. Simon my aunt who is Dominican worked in at APUA for 28 years, she was receiving pension when UPP came to office they stop her pension sir. That’s how your party treated foreigners, its upsetting to hear people like u come to say about hand outs. U and your party stopped wat was her right full own, so if she could get help from a Labour Party candidate she shouldn’t take it? that’s wat u telling us, wicked man go back to your private life.
Tell your aunt things are good in Dominica under Skerrit so ask her to vome back home
I’m sorry for your aunt but what has that got to do with cleaning up the voters’ list?
there is more to that pension story than you are telling us.
@budman, then tell us.
They really say misery likes company! I wonder if your UPP had won if is that kind of talk u would be involved in.
Gives one the idea that u AG job hunting
Welcome all the thumbs down today DNO
UPP didn’t loose election because of the re-registration of voters. Mr. Simon know for a fact that his government forget the poor people. The ill treatment of foreigner nationals especially Dominicans by UPP and Mr. Simon’s party, cost them the election. And Mr. Simon know for a fact that the re-registration of voters was done for the main reason and that is to have non nationals out of the voters list. He as a foreign national sits in the UPP cabinet as AG and says nothing. Mr. Simon the only difference the old voters list would make in the June !2, 2014 election in Antigua was a 17-0 defeat for the UPP, sir be honest with yourself,
If a person is NOT a CITIZEN of ANY COUNTRY, THEY ARE UNABLE TO VOTE. Only CITIZENS CAN VOTE.
That does not apply to citizens of Commonwealth countries, who can even become M.P.’s in another Commonwealth country. Nor does it apply to E.U. citizens, who can vote in E.U. elections in another country or even stand as a representative for the European Parliament for a country of which they are not a citizen.
The world does not consist of only the U.S.A. – thank goodness.
Unfortunately, not in Antigua.
you dominicans would not tolerate the bull that those foreigners,especially jamaicans and guyanese do in antigua,and would act the same way upp did in antigua..watch how all you cursing the hatians,and people from the dominican republic. it seems like you all choose what to like when it does not affect you all..am born dominican,and under no terms i would ever vote for ablp..i was laid off from my job at st.james club antigua because robin yearwood have shares in it,and the manager there knew i was a upp supporter and he was a known ablp puppet.
Don’t know y u don’t keep out of Antigua politics…..Love u Mr. Simon, UPP strong!!!!….All foreigners, except citizens, should not be allowed to vote…..you needed to make that law…..keep them out if Antigua politics!!!!!
tell simon go back there he comme form and go to hellllllll and back
Is he not a Dominican? I guess he should really go back where he came from, and to HELL and back, as you stated.
typical Labour language, haha; their leader taught them how to curse!
Jealousy is a terrible disease!!!!….stupid much!
Simon came from Soufriere….so thank you for Welcoming HIM back home to Dominica.
CHANGE IS A MUST…WELCOME TO TEAM DOMINICA
I would be delighted to adopt Mr Simon Q C as a native of Soufriete, but unfortunately he is from our neighbouring village of Scott’s Head.
I am so ashamed to be called a Dominican. Can’t believe these labour supporters are so brain washed and ignorant. You are just as wicked as your leader Skerrit. You guys cause oppression, poverty and a begging mentality.
It feels like nobody should read your uneducated comments. You think like a 3 year old with no reasoning – I guess maybe you are 3 yrs old.
If there is a football match for a million dollar prize and one side is allowed because they have the money to fly in Messi, Ronaldo and a whole lot of pro footballers to make up its team against a Dominican club, would we stand aside and say its OK? Then why is it so difficult to understand that we must have a fair electoral process and all those at the electoral commission who stand in its way must be removed immediately. Are we adults or a pack of children playing at politics. Let one side win free and fair whether my side or yours what is so difficult about that
Could not have been better said … Kudos on the analogy
Former AG of Antigua says:
” you do not want a situation where those persons can be carted in, or airlifted in just for the purposes of voting and getting back out,”
Thanks you sir, thank you very much. Welcome back home…please help us clean up this mess in Dominica.
It`s called election bobol, cheating, stealing, theft and this DLP government is a master in this act of thievery under its leadership for the past ten (10) years.
We need a clean up….we need CHANGE
CHANGE IS A MUST…….TEAM DOMINICA
Who started the bobol in 1995?
I do not know who started the bobol, but do you think it should continue? Do you not think we need to start with a CLEAN SLATE and ALLOW the CHIPS to fall where it may?
The same people that started the second world ar in 1940??
who started sin not Satan so because he started sin you have an excuse and a right to continue to sin what foolish logic – it is wrong; it is wrong and it is wrong! end of story!
Blahahahaha….even fools are allowed to dream!!!!!….@ least till reality wakes u up!!!
The UWP Team Dominica does not have to look very far for its next Attorney General, when it gets in power. Can imagine how great this island called Dominica is going to be. Mr. Lennox Linton Prime Minister, Mr. Thompson Fontaine Minister of Finance, Mr. Joseph Isaac Minister of Sports, Miss Monell Williams Minister of Woman Affairs, Mr. Claudius Sanford Minister of Education, Mr. Hector John Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Joshua Francis Minister of Tourism, Minister of Housing Isaac Baptiste. Eat your heart out, Tony.
LOL! Keep on dreaming.
dreams never hurt anyone .
Mr Julius Francis is the only hope for Dominica if Labor is defeated. I am not a supporter of this UWP Team, but if I could vote I would for Julius; for without doubt he is the brightest, best focused and prepared individual among the lot.
I hope you are referring to Mr. Joshua Francis. If you feel that way, you should do some serious campaigning on his behalf.
@Winston Warrington. I would surely vote for LENNOX FOR PRIME MINISTER. oh Yes Sir! this is inspite the fact taht i am campaigning for Joshua in roseau South.
LENNOX IS THE BEST THAT WE HAVE NOW FROM BOTH SIDES, and i love him!
Oops, eight (8) seats are not enough. Keep recruiting.
U must be a real idiot
Doc love
One of the major problems with DLP supporters, they don’t listen and always want to call us, UWP supporters, names, Tony for instance. Mr. Linton made it clear when he gets into office, his cabinet will be made up of ten ministers in comparison to seventeen ministers in the Skeritt led administration. I have selected ten members of the UWP, I hope will move Dominica to a higher level, for that, I am called an idiot. You labor supporters must learn to listen when Mr. Linton speaks.
Awa, I want Joshua Francis for my Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, if nt Behanzin will do just right.
Sorry but I feel uneasy about someone who can not live with his father’s name.
For this current Government reform will mean the loss of an election.
Not even life itself is forever.
Yun jour pour garde, yun jour pour volet. Pardon my patois spelling.
The only reason why the current administration is not interested in electoral reform, is because with reform, it makes it more difficult to rig, steal and manipulate the election process. The lying lawyers are all adamant in keeping reform out of the electoral process simply because it spells trouble for the DLP.
It’s high time that concerned citizens report the behavior of the Dominica Labor party to the UN, OAS and all pertinent organizations that support true democracy in the region. How long are we going to allow these corrupt politicians to skirt the laws and constitution of the land?
I agree. Re-registration of voters, electoral reform, clean voter’s list, or whatever, is necessary because ANY LIST with DEAD PEOPLE’S names or names of people who has moved to other constituencies is INVALID; that in and of itself would consider VOTING RESULTS, NULL and VOID.
Its an honour to see a man who was in government at the time impliment such a thing and it cost him the election and he has no bones about being in oposition because he is confident that the electoral process was done with integrity.. free and fair and the best party won the ple spoke… but skerritt dont give a damm about the ple here in DA .. he will do all in his power to keep corrupting the electoral process and take away our democracy… We must stand against this now…This is dictatorship, skerritt is a dictator and dictators only care about how they can stay in power by any means…Dominicans must stand together to change that because any party who come in power can do the same thing tomorrow.. we must protect ourselves from these elements…THE time for change is now .
I concur st.joe massiff#2… this is a real man. tony and alick are scared of losing the blood they suck out of Dominica.
The answer is simple, VOTE!
That is what you call STATESMANSHIP….as opposed to the dictatorship we have here!!!!!!!!!!
Well done Justin . The bottom line is that the electorate must get more educated . While it is not too late there should be laws passed to preserve the democratic process otherwise it will become only a sham. Please do not follow the US example where money controls the status quo.
He only now see the need for reform? That is my problem with these guys. When they are in power, they never seem to see what needs to be changed because these old corrupt rules serve their interests.
Are you an idiot?
His party was in power when it initiated the reform and his party lost the election because of the reform.
At least he was man enough to admit that his party was defeated in a process that was transparent, clean, viable and legitimate.
I guess his party was not expected to lose. That is the PROBLEM with the PARTY back home, FEAR OF LOSS.
I BELIEVE if the PEOPLE/CITIZENS of DOMINICA are SERIOUS in EXPRESSING THEIR FEELINGS, CLEAN LIST or NOT THEY CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.
VOTE!
If it was up to them an their policy…they would win…but all eyes were on them….and the names they wanted to remove on the list…u think they not regretting what they did…they won two elections on the old list.. and becus they know they were going to lose…the idea….they wanted boundaries change…they start giving non nationals problems
He was in power in Antigua and they cleaned up the voters list by re registering every one? Educate ur self. Just want to listen to what u hear on kairi alone then. The man A.G under the upp government .
see what happens when you cannot read and understand what the man said…
this is charactersic of the listeners of the animal show. they don’t read but just repeat the foolishness they hear from astaphans
Listen, mr. Simon is a real QC and Tony Astaphan only a peepee SC. I rate Mr. Simon above Tony Astaphan anytime.
Dear Dominicans
Tony Astaphan will veto any electoral change as he knows that his party will lose the next election.
Most importantly, compared to Justin Simon QC Tony Astaphan is a very small fish.
Mr Simon Dominica needs you to challenge Tony Astaphan. He believes that he is invincible , but we know that you are capable of curtailing his shoddy treatment of Dominicans!
Please come home Mr Simon your country needs you! Please save us from Tony Astaphan and his clique.
@Educator It is a poiity that buffoons like you have “Educator”, as you blogging name. You have made yourself a Skerrit slave, that is why your brain is so smoked and empty.
HAVE YOU ASKED YOURSELF WHY YOU ARE SO POOR? It is because of corrupot practices by our government, so the money cannot filter to slaves like you , who are the ordinary barefoot and poor man.
How can u call yourself Educator. You have no interest in facts. Oh no u must be the educator for all labourites because they all write dumb and foolishness.
Why is your handle “Educator” – You don’t sound like one!
@ poor man while you have a point The UPP while in office supported the cleansing of the list.
I wonder if tony , alick and Fast and Furious going to call the Former attorney general of Antigua and Barbuda, Justin Simon dunce too
They might.
I listened to Mr. Simon this morning and to me he makes a lot of sense. If in our OECS neigbour Antigua both the ruling party and the opposition could agree that the reform they did was necessary why can we not do the same thing and why does the Electoral Commission say it would take at least three years when an island with a larger population than ours dis so in three months? We don’t always know better you know and should be humble enough to adopt best practice from a neighbour that inherited its parliamentary system, tadition and legislation from Britain, just like we did. Sorry but something is not right about this in Dominica.
Yeah, I do not understand why this process would take three years. In a Country as big as Europe and America the process do not take three years, why would it in Dominica. I think it will take that long for them to come up with an EXCUSE that the ILLITERATES would accept.
While that may be so when one is in political power one is blind to such need, it is only when one finds himself in opposition that such need comes clear, that is why it gone a be difficult for such legislation to materialize.
Wasn’t Mr. Simon the Chief legal Advisor to government by extension a party who flew in a plane load of voters (students) to vote? Please somebody, help me understand. Didn’t the High Court in Antigua rule that this is a legal matter under the present legislation? Is Mr. Simon, now advocating that the law his party used to “cart” fly people (students) in from Cuba require revision.
Students are students. They are studying, using government stipends and expected to return to the country to work. People living in the diaspora are another matter all together.
Please can you explain what you wrote? Are the students from Antigua citizens of Cuba or did the students run and went in hiding in Cuba? Was it the government who sent them on mission to study and learn? Did you think the government sent them there as form of imprisonment or to be burnished? Please stop hurting people wrongly for in doing so you are hurting yourself.
keep a close eye on this man…It’s all they so who wanted to legalise homosexuality in Antigua…hmmmm…I put my hand in my mouth
consumer the only reason you all so desperate to cart, fly, push, hijack people and plane peopel into Dominica as you continue to say on the animal program and no one can stop all you is because you all are not confident that the resident population will vote you all back in office. If things are so good in Dominica why go around the world looking for reinforcement- stand on your record and bring the contest come. No all you want to bring people because you jolly well know that dominicans leaving in Dominica are ready to boot you all out.
Poor Man –but he was part of the process- in fact PM Spencer is on record as saying although he dissolved parliament he will not set a date for election until the electrocal commission gives him the green light that the reform is complete; is that so in Dominica no way; the Commssion just there crying and making politicians take for a mackaqui; men and women without moral fibre. What a Shame!
I hope the electoral commission can implement this in DA.